The Impact of the Cultural Revolution on Education in China during the Period of 1960s

The level of the social development significantly depends on the progress of education in the society. During the period of 1966-1977, the Cultural Revolution in China influenced all the economic and social spheres of the community’s development and focused on changing the traditional visions of the Chinese people with the Communist ideals promoted by Mao Zedong.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The Impact of the Cultural Revolution on Education in China during the Period of 1960s-1970s specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Thus, the Cultural Revolution affected the society with the help of different ideological means and techniques used by the Communists, and such important social fields as education became to be regulated according to the Communist principles which were new for the Chinese public of the 1960s. There is no single idea on the impact of the Cultural Revolution on education and its role w ithin the society, but the effects of the Communist strategies used during the period of the Cultural Revolution affected the development of China during the post-revolution era. That is why, the question is: what is the impact of the Cultural Revolution on the sphere of education in China during the period of the 1960s-1970s? The consequences of the Cultural Revolution for the education sphere in China can be discussed as positive or negative with references to the perspective and expected outcomes. Thus, the plausible answers to the asked question depend on determining positive and negative features of the process, including rather uncertain positions. According to Han, the Cultural Revolution contributed to the progress of education because of increasing the number of schools at the rural territories of China and because of improvements and revisions in the curriculum (Han 60). From this point, the reforms associated with the Cultural Revolution had the positive impact on educati on in the country during the period of the 1960s-1970s. It is also possible to state that the impact of the Cultural Revolution on education cannot be discussed only from one perspective because of the lack of evidences and sources to support this or that idea (Wang 199-203). Nevertheless, these ideas are rather weak to be supported because Han operates evidences which are connected with the analysis of the impact of the Cultural Revolution only on the educational development in its connection with the rural territories’ progress without references to the quality of education and curricula.Advertising Looking for research paper on asian? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Moreover, Wang’s position is irrelevant in relation to the development of modern debates on the role of the Cultural Revolution in the social progress of China and publishing a lot of associated literature. The provided answers are plausible, but t hey need more discussion with references to the credible arguments. Thus, one more answer to the question – my thesis – is that the general impact of the Cultural Revolution on the education in China during the period of the 1960s-1970s is negative because of the focus on the connection of education and agricultural growth instead of improving education independently, the discussion of only economic benefits of increasing the number of schools, and because of provoking the interrupted education. The role of education during the Cultural Revolution was discussed in its relation to intensifying the labor force and contributing to the progress of rural territories. According to Zhou and Hon, the quality of education was not discussed as the main goal of the reforms, the economic benefits for the rural territories were prioritized along with accentuating the ideological issues (Zhou and Hou 12-15). Furthermore, the development of the education in the rural territories coul d guarantee the satisfaction of the economic and social needs of the rural territories (Zhou and Hou 12-14). As a result, the provided educational opportunities could guarantee the development of the economic sphere instead of educating students in terms of their intellectual level and socialization. Moreover, the Cultural Revolution was the prolonged process based on the reforms which were not realized immediately. Meng and Gregory state that millions of the Chinese people had to interrupt their education because of the problems with reforming of the sphere. Thus, â€Å"the 11 years of the Cultural Revolution, 1966–77, affected the formal education of a whole generation of young people† (Meng and Gregory 935). The interrupted education influenced the general level of education among the population of China during the discussed period negatively because people had no opportunities to continue their education in the universities where the new curricula and standards wer e implemented. The topic of the Cultural Revolution and its role is rather controversial, and it requires its detailed examination from different perspectives. My thesis is significant because it allows the critical evaluation of the points on the role of the Cultural Revolution for the education of the Chinese people during the period of the 1960s-1970s.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The Impact of the Cultural Revolution on Education in China during the Period of 1960s-1970s specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The discussed points such as the development of education at the rural territories, the increase in number of schools, and the provided educational opportunities for people were previously discussed as positive moments, but my argument focuses on discussing these concepts without references to the economic aspect. The educational advantages for people are taken into consideration. Works Cited Han, Dongping. â€Å"Impact of the Cultural Revolution on Rural Education and Economic Development: The Case of Jimo County†. Modern China 27.1 (2001): 59-90. Print. Meng, Xin, and Robert Gregory. â€Å"The Impact of Interrupted Education on Subsequent Educational Attainment: A Cost of the Chinese Cultural Revolution†. Economic Development and Cultural Change 50.4 (2002): 935-959. Print. Wang, Shaoguang. â€Å"’New Trends of Thought’ on the Cultural Revolution†. Journal of Contemporary China 8.21 (1999): 197-217. Print. Zhou, Xueguang, and Liren Hou. â€Å"Children of the Cultural Revolution: The State and the Life Course in the People’s Republic of China†. American Sociological Review 64.1 (1999): 12-36. Print. This research paper on The Impact of the Cultural Revolution on Education in China during the Period of 1960s-1970s was written and submitted by user Eli W. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.